1.HLA DR/DQ type in a Malay population in Kelantan, Malaysia
Azira Nms ; Zeehaida M ; Nurul Khaiza Yahya
The Malaysian Journal of Pathology 2013;35(1):65-69
The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) has been documented to be involved in various disease
susceptibilities or in resistance against certain diseases. An important element in susceptibility and
resistance to disease is ethnic genetic constitution. Cognizant of this, the present study aimed at
studying the prevalence of particular HLA class II in a normal healthy Malay population which
may serve as a guide for further genetic and immunological studies related to the Malay Malaysian
population. The study involved 40 normal healthy Malay persons in Kelantan. HLA typing was
conducted on venous blood samples through a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specifi c primer
method (low resolution Olerup SSP® HLA Typing Kits). The study found HLA DR12 and HLA
DQ8 to be the most frequent HLA class II type. HLA DQ5 was signifi cantly associated with female
subjects.
2.A study on HLA-DR/DQ typing in adult Malay patients with acute amoebic liver abscess
Nazli Zainuddin ; Nurul Azira Mohd Shah ; Zeehaida Mohamed ; Nik Zairi Zakaria ; Nurul Khaiza Yahya ; Maya Mazuwin Yahya
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2016;71(6):341-345
Introduction: Amoebiasis is a parasitic disease caused by
Entamoeba histolytica that may lead to death in developing
countries. Few important risk factors have been identified in
the development of amoebic liver abscess (ALA). There are
limited reports that suggest an association between
antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
particularly class II antigens and ALA development. This
present work aimed at studying the possible association of
HLA antigens with ALA and disease severity. Results of the
study may serve as a guide for further immunological
studies dealing with E. histolytica.
Methods: This preliminary study involved two groups of
subjects: 20 ALA patients in the experimental group and 40
healthy individuals in the control group. Cases were
selected from adult Malay patients confirmed with ALA
based on clinical signs and symptoms, radiological findings,
microbiological findings and who were admitted to the
medical or surgical ward, Hospital USM, Kelantan. Venous
blood was obtained from each patient and HLA typing was
then conducted using polymerase chain reaction specific
primer sequence.
Results: HLA DR12 was most frequently found in the healthy
control and ALA groups at 40% and 55% respectively. HLA
DQ7 and DQ8 were found to have the highest percentage in
the ALA group at 65%. In the control group, HLA DQ8 (57.5%)
had the highest percentage.
Conclusion: HLA antigens play a role in acquisition of ALA
and provide understanding of the disease outcome.
3.Correlation of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics with Rheumatoid Factor Seropositivity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Maizatul Akmal Othman ; Wan Syamimee Wan Ghazali ; Nurul Khaiza Yahya ; Kah Keng Wong
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):52-59
Background: The rheumatoid factor (RF) blood test is the most commonly adopted test
for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients who are seropositive for RF might face
a greater likelihood of developing more aggressive symptoms.
Methods: Our goal was to study the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as
their correlation with RF seropositivity, among a series of 80 RA patients aged ≥ 18 years who
attend Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).
Results: Of the 80 RA patients included in this study, 66 (82.5%) were female and 14
(17.5%) were male. No significant associations between RF seropositivity and demographic and/
or clinical characteristics or other laboratory investigations were observed, including gender,
morning stiffness, individual joint involvement (from multiple sites of the body), and erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR) measurement. However, a significant association between RF
seropositivity and patients aged ≥ 50 was found (P = 0.032).
Conclusion: RF seropositivity was found to be more common in much older RA patients.
4.Evaluation of Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecules and Anti-C1q Antibody in Discriminating between Active and Non-Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Hasni Mahayidin ; Nurul Khaiza Yahya ; Wan Syamimee Wan Ghazali ; Asmahan Mohd Ismail ; Wan Zuraida Wan Ab Hamid
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(3):22-31
Background
: Detecting the active state of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is important
but challenging. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum endothelial cell
adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and anti-C1q antibody in discriminating between active
and non-active SLE.
Methods:
Using SELENA-SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), 95 SLE patients (45 active
and 50 non-active) were assessed. A score above five was considered indicative of active SLE. The
blood samples were tested for serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and anti-C1q antibody using enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
The levels of serum VCAM-1 and anti-C1q antibody were significantly higher in active
SLE patients. Both VCAM-1 and anti-C1q were able to discriminate between active and non-active
SLE (
p
-value < 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). From the receiver operating characteristic curves
(ROCs) constructed, the optimal cut-off values for VCAM-1 and anti-C1q antibody in discriminating
between active and non-active SLE were 30.5 ng/mL (69.0% sensitivity, 60.0% specificity, PPV 58.5%,
NPV 66.7%) and 7.86 U/mL (75.6% sensitivity, 80% specificity, PPV 77.3%, NPV 78.4%), respectively.
However, serum ICAM-1 level was unable to discriminate between the two groups (
p
-value = 0.193).
Conclusion:
Anti-C1q antibody demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy in discriminating
between active and non-active SLE patients